Warriors Reportedly Make Decision On Draymond Green, Jordan Poole
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - MAY 10: Golden State Warriors' Draymond Green #23 and Jordan Poole #3 celebrate a basket in the third quarter of Game 5 of the NBA basketball Western Conference semifinal playoffs against the Los Angeles Lakers at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Wednesday, May 10, 2023. (Jane Tyska/Digital First Media/East Bay Times via Getty Images)
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Before the Golden State Warriors could begin their championship defense, Draymond Green punched Jordan Poole during a preseason practice. The incident cast a shadow over their season, but it reportedly won't sway any offseason plans.
Green will enter free agency this summer. With Poole beginning a four-year, $123 million extension next season, keeping the young guard and re-signing Green would give them a hefty luxury-tax bill.
According to The Athletic's Anthony Slater, Poole's future with the Warriors is "murkier" even though they're not actively shopping him. However, there's no "him-or-me ultimatum" about retaining Poole or Green.
"The Warriors are operating under the assumption that both Green and Poole can again be on the same roster and push toward the same championship goal next season without issue," Slater wrote.
Slater suggested that Poole's sporadic playing time caused more tension between him and the team than Green's punch. The 23-year-old averaged 21.8 minutes per game during the playoffs after logging 30.0 minutes in each of the last two regular seasons.
Although the Warriors don't plan on trading Poole (or anyone else) to dump salary and lessen their tax hit, Stephen Curry is the only player entirely "safe" this offseason.
Golden State faces pivotal decisions this offseason without Bob Myers, who stepped down as general manager. Poole and Green are at the heart of those choices.
